William h



(No Model.)

W. H. MGGREW.

WIRE AND PICKET FENCE.

Patented Nov. 22, 1887.

www1/@wey N PETZRS. Pham-u UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

VILLIAM H. MCGREV, OF PERU, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO JOHN MYERS, OF SAME PLACE.

WIRE-AND-PICKET FENCE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 373,596, dated November 22, 1.887,

(No model.)

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. MoGnEw, a citizen of the United States, residing at Peru, in the county of Miami and State of Indiana, have invented a new and useful Innprovenient in \Vire-and-Picket Fences, ofwhich the following is a specitication.

My invention relates to improvements in wire-and-picket fences; and it consists in a pieket-and-wire-fence panel having the bracewire extending diagonally thereon, the said brace-wireliaving loops twisted about one of the intersecting wires of the fence-panel, as will be set forth hereinafter.

In the drawings, Figure I is au elevation of a panel of a combined wire-and-picket felice provided with a brace-rod embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a detached enlarged perspective View illustrating the method of twisting the brace-wire around one of the wires of a fence-panel. Fig. 3 is a similar view illustrating the twist made in the bracewire on the wire of the fence-panel. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view ot' the twistinglever.

A represents a panel of combined wire-andpicket fence, of which B represents the posts, C represents the wires stretched horizontally on the posts, and D represents the pickets secured between tlie wires by twisting the latter together in the usual manner.

Fences thus constructed are liable to sag, so that the central portion of the panel is lower than the ends thereof, thus making the fence present a very unsightly appearance.

The objectof my invention is to provide a method `and apparatus for bracing the panels of a fence of this construction, so that the said panels are prevented from sagging, and the brace is of such construction that it may be tightened from time to time in order to take up slack without having to remove the brace from the posts. This object I accomplish by the method and devices hereinafter described. v

F represents a brace-wire, which is coiled on the wire C at the lower center of panel or interlaced on the lower ends of the fencepickets at the center of the panel. The wire Fis then extended to the upper ends of the posts in an inclined direction, and is secured to the said posts by means of staples or keepers G. The brace-wire is continuous throughout the entire line of fence, and is arranged on each panel of the fence alike. For convenience in illustration I have, however, only shown one such panel in Fig. 1 ofthe drawings.

My method of tightening the brace-wire so as to take up the slack thereof, and thereby prevent the panel from sagging, is to form loops in those portions of the brace-wire which intersect the central horizontal wire, O, of the fence, and this I do by inserting the curved sharpened hook-point H of a lever, I, between the brace-wire F and the central wire, C, at their points ofintersection, resting the rear side of the lever against the wire C, so that the latter serves as a fulcrurn for the lever, and then causing the lever to describe acircle in a vertical plane at right angles to the axis of the wire O, the latter serving as a center. By this means the brace-wire is doubled on itself, and loops K are formed therein; and as the said loops turn round and round the wire O coils L are formed in the brace-wire at the ends of the loops thereof and encircling the wire C, thereby tightening the brace-wire F and securing the same very firmly to the wire O. When the bracewire F has been sufciently tightened, the hook-lever is withdrawn, and the coils L prevent the loops K froni straightening out and relaxing the tension of the wires L.

Vhcn the panels of the fence show a tendency to sag, which they will do from time to time, the point of the lever inust be again inserted in the loops K and a few additional turns given to the said loops on the wire O, thereby forming additional coils L in the brace-wire.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- A pieket-and-wire fence panel having the brace wire F .extending diagonally across the saine, the said brace-wire having the loops K formed by doubling the brace-wire upon itself' at a point intersecting one of the horizontal wires of the fence, said loops being further twisted about the said horizontal fence-wire and attached, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

W'ILLIAM H. MCGREW.

Witnesses:

Roer. J. LovELAND, ULYssEs G. STAEBUCK.

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